Ground reservoir



Janl9,'1932- J. J. MANNION 5 GROUND RESERVOIR Filed Sept. 26, 19 28 f if 7 3 z 4 2 5 Fig.2.

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Patented Jan. 19, 1932 JOHJSF'J'. MANN-ION; OF 'FAIR OAKS,.PENNSYLVA 'N IA GROUNDHRESERVOIR Application filed September 26, 1928. Serial'No. 308,570.

This invention relates to ground reservoirs or resistors for radiocir'cuits, and has for its object the provision: of a reservoirelement I; adapted to beinserted in the grounded side 5 "ofa radiocircuit and to so increase the ground capacityof theicircuit' that the capacity and clos'e 'tuning of the radio receiver is materiallyincreasedand "improved quality of reception-result s. v

" E irperience" has shown that bygthe use of the ground reservoir of this invention the range-of a'radio receiver can be materially increasedandinsome instances almost donble'd',-w1th all conditions remalnmg constant except forthechangein the ground connecti'o'n;

Thetheory upon which the novel results' of this apparatusrworks is not certain. It *is I thought that this apparatus serves as a capacity reservoir-for'the high frequency radio currents, that is, due to its novel construction, ithas a capacity nianyj times greater'than the ground wire with which it is in series I and, therefore; it can store =up'rushesof cur rent and either dissipate said current or per mitit to pass 'out'through 'theground when I Another theory advanced forthe function of the apparatus Oftlll'S'lIlVGlltIOIliS'fi fOl an electrical circuit, of which th1s reslstor forms a part,and assu1ned at a given instant to have a'resi'stance of R- ohms; this same ClIC'L'llt r having an inductance-of 'L' henrys; and a capacityiof C farads,-the-number of waves r R -is lesssthan.

, the'circuit'is" capable of actingas a sourceof ora detector for oscillations. In any-case,

in practice, -R- is usually very small.

The above being true, then the apparatus of 'this' invention,due-to its novel constructio'n,pr'obably servesas a-sensitive type :of skin-efiectresistances 4 Either of the above theories of operation may be correct, or the novel results obtained may be the result of an entirely different theory. This I am unable to tell, but,'however, it is certain that the use of this novel element in series with the ground wire of any radio set will greatly improve the range and 1 quality of reception.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a plan view of a reservoir member constructed in accordance with this invention;

.Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the body thereof.

Figure'3 is a transverse sectional view" taken "on the line IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one" of the I cap members. 7

Figure 5 is anenla'rged transverse view through one of the wires forming the ca pacity body.

Referring v more particularly to the drawlngs, the letter A designates the shellof the reservoir or resistor member as a whole which 1s composed of a tubular member having a core portion of ferrous metal 2 and an enveloping covering-or plating of copper and silver 3.

The ferrous metal core 2 has a relatively low conductivity, while the platings or coverll'lgSOf copper and silver have a relatively high conductivity. The platings of copper andsilver are preferably deposited by electrolysis 'andwhile the silver coating alone, which has a very high conductivity, would be suflic ient insofar as the operation of the device is concerned, this metal cannot be satis-' factorily deposited directly on the ferrous metal. core and, therefore, it is found desirable,.if'not necessary, to first deposit a coatingof: copper on the ferrous metal and then deposit the silver on the copper.

A series'of copper wires 4, having a covering of silver plate 5, are arranged longitudinally within the shell A so as to form a single layer around its inner circumference.

A cap member B is removably secured on U eachiend ofthe shell A. The cap members B are composed of aferrous metal core 6 hav- 7.;

ing copper and silver plated enveloping coatings or coverings 7 deposited by electrolysis.

As shown, these caps 13 are threaded intern ally and screw on the threaded ends of the shell A, the threads being out before the shell and caps are plated.

Attaching clip members 8 are secured to each of the cap members B by bolts 9, which bolts extend through the caps an appreciable distance and are locked in position by nuts 10. Clamping or wedging disks 12 are mounted on the inner ends of the bolts 9 and are adapted to be forced into the circle of wires 4 so as to force said wires into engagement with the shell A and form an electrical connection with said wires 4, said shell A and said cap members B.

In operation, one end of the reservoir or resistor apparatus of this invention is preferably connected to the ground terminal of a radio set by a short length of wire leading from one of the attaching clips 8, while the other end is connected to a ground wire by the other clip 8.

Vhile I have shown one specific embodiment of my invention which is, as far as known to me, the best embodiment thereof, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various modifications may be made which will give at least some degree of the results obtained by the form herein disclosed. For instance, the shell A may be made from copper or brass and silver plated, if desired, or the shell may be made of non-conducting material, and while the results, as far as known by me, will not be as good as those obtained by the form of the invention herein disclosed, nevertheless radio reception will be materially improved.

It will also be noted that at least fair re sults may be obtained from apparatus con structed like that herein disclosed but with the silver plating omitted.

As stated in the forepart of this specification, the theories of operation of this apparatus are the best I now know, and while such theories may be wrong, nevertheless experience has shown that radio sets equipped with this apparatus show a marked improvement both in close tuning and quality of reception. In some cases under identical conditions a Radiola No. 17 radio, when equipped with this apparatus, had such improved tuning qualities that substantially double the number of stations were tuned in than was possible with the same ground connection without the apparatus of this invention being in series therewith.

I claim- 7 1. A ground resistor member for use in the ground circuit of a radio, said resistor comprising a capacity body composed of a plurality of parallel copper wires of round crosssection and having an integral surface coating of a rare metal having a materially higher conductivity than copper, means for forming an electrical contact between all of said wires at each end, means for connecting a wire from the ground side of a radio set to one end of said wires, and means for connecting a grounded wire to the other end of said wires, said capacity body having less resistance and materially greater capacity than said ground wire.

2. A ground resistor member for use in the ground circuit of a radio, said resistor comprising a capacity body composed of a plurality of parallel copper wires of round crosssection and having an integral surface coating of a rare metal having a materially higher conductivity than copper, a tubular metal shell surrounding said body of wires, said shell having an integral surface coating on both its inner and outer surfaces of a rare metal having a materially higher conductivity than copper, means for closing each end of said shell and for forcing said wires into electrical contact with said shell at each end thereof, and means for connecting a wire from the ground side of a radio to one end of said shell, and means for connecting a grounded wire to the other end of said shell, said shell and said capacity body of wires having less resistance and materially greater capacity than said ground wire.

3. A ground resistor member for use in the ground circuit of a radio, said resistor comprising a tubular rigid shell, a capacity body composed of a series of copper wires of round cross-section arranged parallel to each other and to the axis of said shell to form a layer around the interior of said shell, means for closing each end of said shell and for forcing said wires into electrical contact with said shell at each end thereof, means for connecting a wire from the ground side of a radio to one end of said shell, and means for connecting a grounded wire to the other end of said shell, said shell and said capacity body of wires having less resistance and materially greater capacity than the ground wire.

4. A ground resistor member for use in the ground circuit of a radio, said resistor comprising a tubular shell, a capacity body composed of a series of parallel copper wires of round cross-section arranged to form a layer around the interior of said shell, said wires having an integral surface coating of a rare metal having a materially higher conductivity than copper, means for closing each end of said shell and for forcing said Wires into electrical contact with said shell at each end thereof, said shell having an integral surface coating on both its inner and outer surfaces of a rare metal having a materially higher conductivity than copper, means for connecting a wire from the ground side of a radio to one end of said shell, and means for connecting a grounded wire to the other end of said shell, said shell and said capacity body of wires having less resistance and materially greater 5 capacity than the ground Wire.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

J OHN J. MANNION. 

